Input device, electronic lock including the same, and method for controlling the electronic lock

ABSTRACT

An input device includes a touch pad may include a transmissive material, a touch detector disposed at a rear portion of the touch pad, a printed circuit board connected to the touch detector, and a plurality of light emitting devices mounted on the printed circuit board, wherein a plurality of input elements is provided on a back surface of the touch detector. Each input element has at least two symbols that are formed in overlap with each other and in mutually different colors.

CROSS-REFERENCE(S) TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No.10-2016-0165756, filed on Dec. 7, 2016, the entire contents of which isincorporated herein for all purposes by this reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an input device and more particularly,to an input device which is capable of enhancing security and privacy byvarying the positions of symbols, an electronic lock including the same,and a method for controlling the electronic lock.

Description of Related Art

In general, electronic locks have been employed in home doors, officedoors, and storage box doors to enhance the security of the doors.

An input device is connected to the electronic lock. The input devicehas a plurality of input keys on which a plurality of symbols aredisplayed. The locking or the unlocking of the electronic lock may becontrolled by inputting a password through the input keys.

However, in an input device of a conventional electronic lock, symbols(numbers, characters, and the like) are designated to and displayed onrelevant input keys. Accordingly, when a fingerprint and the like remainon each input key, the security may be threatened.

The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section isonly for enhancement of understanding of the general background of theinvention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form ofsuggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to aperson skilled in the art.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Various aspects of the present invention are directed to providing aninput device which is configured for enhancing security and privacy byvarying the positions of symbols of input elements, an electronic lockincluding the same, and a method for controlling the electronic lock.

The technical problems to be solved by the present inventive concept arenot limited to the aforementioned problems, and any other technicalproblems not mentioned herein will be clearly understood from thefollowing description by those skilled in the art to which the presentinvention pertains.

According to various aspects of the present invention, an input devicemay include:

-   a touch pad including a transmissive material; a touch detector    disposed at a rear portion of the touch pad; a printed circuit board    connected to the touch detector; and a plurality of light emitting    devices mounted on the printed circuit board.

A plurality of input elements may be provided on a back surface of thetouch detector. Each input element may have at least two symbols thatare formed in overlap with each other and in mutually different colors.The light emitting devices may be disposed to individually emit light tothe input elements.

Each light emitting device may be configured to emit lights having atleast two different colors corresponding to mutually different colors ofsymbols of each input element.

The input elements may be formed on a film, and the film may be attachedto the back surface of the touch pad.

The input elements may be printed on the back surface of the touch pad.

The touch detector may include a capacitive detector having a pluralityof electrodes.

The electrodes may include transparent materials.

The touch detector may be printed together with the input elements onthe back surface of the touch pad.

A support member may be interposed between the touch detector and theprinted circuit board. The support member may have a plurality ofreceiving openings in which the light emitting devices are received.

The receiving openings may be isolated from each other by a sealingwall.

According to various aspects of the present invention, an electroniclock may include: an input device, which includes a touch pad, a touchdetector disposed at a rear portion of the touch pad, a printed circuitboard connected to the touch detector, and a plurality of light emittingdevices mounted on the printed circuit board, a radio frequency antennamounted on the printed circuit board, and a plurality of input elementsand a verification element provided on a back surface of the touchdetector; a locking mechanism connected to the input device; a controldevice which controls the locking mechanism; a touch authenticationmodule connected to the touch sensor; and a wireless authenticationmodule connected to the radio frequency antenna.

According to various aspects of the present invention, a method forcontrolling the electronic lock may include:

-   proceeding to a sleep mode in which a plurality of light emitting    devices are turned off when a touch to a touch pad is not input even    though a predetermined standby time, or more, elapses; determining    whether a symbol of at least one input element is touched after the    touch to the touch pad is input within the predetermined standby    time; determining whether a present mode is a password    authentication mode when the symbol of the at least one input    element is touched; and inputting a password when the present mode    is the password authentication mode and performing an unlocking    operation of a locking mechanism when the input password is matched    with a registered password.

The method may further include: determining whether the present mode isa wireless authentication mode by a radio frequency antenna and anelectronic tag when the symbol of the at least one input element is nottouched; and performing the unlocking operation of the locking mechanismwhen the present mode is the wireless authentication mode and when inputidentification information of the electronic tag is matched withregistered identification information.

The method may further include: determining whether a user registrationmode is performed when the present mode is not the wirelessauthentication mode, the user registration mode being a mode in whichthe password or identification information of the electronic tag isregistered by a user; and inputting the password or the identificationinformation of the electronic tag when the user registration mode isdetermined to be performed.

The method may further include: determining whether a supervisorregistration mode is performed when the user registration mode is notdetermined to be performed, the supervisor registration mode being amode in which the password is registered by a supervisor; and inputtingthe password when the supervisor registration mode is determined to beperformed.

The method sand apparatuses of the present invention have other featuresand advantages which will be apparent from or are set forth in moredetail in the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, andthe following Detailed Description, which together serve to explaincertain principles of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an input device and an electronic lockapplied to a receiving box, according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view illustrating the input device,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view illustrating the input device,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the input device,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating the internal structure of theinput device, according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating any one of input elements of the inputdevice, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating positions of the symbols on the inputdevice, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating the positions of the symbols illustratedin FIG. 7 that are varied;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating the electronic lock, according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling theelectronic lock, according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarilyto scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of variousfeatures illustrative of the basic principles of the invention. Thespecific design features of the present invention as disclosed herein,including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations,and shapes will be determined in part by the particular intendedapplication and use environment,

In the figures, reference numbers refer to the same or equivalent partsof the present invention throughout the several figures of the drawing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of thepresent invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and described below. While the invention(s) willbe described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments, it will beunderstood that the present description is not intended to limit theinvention(s) to those exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, theinvention(s) is/are intended to cover not only the exemplaryembodiments, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalentsand other embodiments, which may be included within the spirit and scopeof the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to accompanying drawings. The size of eachelement and the thickness of a line, which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, may be exaggerated for convenience or clarity,and do not reflect an actual size. In addition, the terms employed forthe description of the present invention are defined based on functionsof relevant elements in an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. Accordingly, the terms may be varied with the intent and thecustom of a user and a supervisor. The terms are defined based on theinventive concept throughout the whole specification.

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the state that an input device 10 and anelectronic lock 100 including the input device 10 are disposed in areceiving box 1, according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the electronic lock 100 may includethe input device 10 and a locking mechanism 50 electrically connected tothe input device 10.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the input device 10 may be disposed adjacentto a door 2 of the receiving box 1. The input device 10 may beconfigured to perform touch authentication or wireless authentication.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the locking mechanism 50 may be disposedinside the receiving box 1 and may be formed in a deadbolt structure, alatch structure, or the like. The locking mechanism 50 may perform anunlocking operation wherein the door 2 of the receiving box 1 is opened.The unlocking operation of the locking mechanism 50 may be performedthrough the touch authentication or the wireless authentication of theinput device 10.

Referring to FIG. 2 to FIG. 8, according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention, the input device 10 may include a body 11, atouch pad 12 disposed in the body 11, a touch detector 13 disposed at aback side of the touch pad 12, a printed circuit board (PCB) 14connected to the touch detector 13, and a plurality of light emittingdevices 15 disposed on the printed circuit board 14.

The body 11 may be formed in the shape of an opened frame having frontand back portions. The touch pad 12 may be mounted on the front portionof the body 11. A protector 19 may be mounted on the back portion of thebody 11. The protector 19 may be coupled to the back portion of the body11 by fasteners 19 a.

The touch pad 12 may be formed of a transmissive material whichtransmits light of the light emitting device 15. The touch pad 12 may beprovided in a black color wherein a user does not view the internal partof the touch pad 12 with the naked eyes of the user when the lightemitting device 15 is turned off

A plurality of input elements 21 may be provided on a back surface ofthe touch pad 12 through a printing manner or by use of a film 20.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the inputelements 21 may be formed on the film 20 through the printing manner ora depositing manner. The film 20 may be attached to the back surface ofthe touch pad 12.

For example, the film 20 having the input elements 21 may be attached tothe back surface of the touch pad 12 using an adhesive.

Alternatively, the film 20 having the input elements 21 may be formedintegrally with the back surface of the touch pad 12 through aninsert-molding manner.

At least two mutually-different symbols including numbers or characters,may be displayed on each input element 21 while the symbols areoverlapping with each other. As the light of the light emitting device15 is selectively transmitted through the input elements 21, the symbolsmay be selectively displayed.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, theinput elements 21 may be directly printed on the back surface of thetouch pad 12. In the present case, the film 20 may be omitted.

In addition, a verification element 22 may be formed on the back surfaceof the touch pad 12 or the film 20. The verification element 22 may beused to verify that the input of a password or the recognition of anelectronic tag is finished. In addition, the verification element 22 maybe used to register the password or the identification information(e.g., a registration number) of the electronic tag, or may be used toperform the unlocking operation of the locking mechanism 50 without anadditional authentication procedure. Although the verification element22 has “*”, or asterisk, as the symbol thereof as illustrated in FIG. 7and FIG. 8, the verification element 22 may have various specialcharacters as the symbol thereof.

In addition, an antenna indicia 27 may be formed on the back surface ofthe touch pad 12 or the film 20 to indicate the position of a radiofrequency (RF) antenna 14 b, which will be described later. Accordingly,when the electronic tag accesses the antenna indicia 27, the RF antenna14 b may receive the identification information of the electronic tagand transmit the identification information of the electronic to awireless authentication module 43.

The touch detector 13 may be configured to recognize each touch to theinput elements 21 and the verification element 22. A connector 13 aextends from one side of the touch detector 13. The connector 13 a maybe electrically connected to the printed circuit board 14.

According to an embodiment, the touch detector 13 may include acapacitive detector having a plurality of electrodes 13 b. Eachelectrode 13 b may include a transparent electrode to transmit light ofthe light emitting device 15 which will be described later. Theelectrodes 13 b may be independently mounted on relevant positionscorresponding to the input elements 21 and the verification elements 22.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the touch detector 13 may bedirectly printed together with the input elements 21 on the back surfaceof the touch pad 12.

The light emitting devices 15 may be mounted on the printed circuitboard 14 or the touch pad 12. The light emitting devices 15 may beindependently mounted on relevant positions corresponding to the inputelements 21 and the verification element 22.

According to an embodiment, each light emitting device 15 may have acombination structure of at least two light emitting diodes (LED) whichemit light having at least two mutually different colors.

According to another exemplary embodiment, each light emitting device 15may include three color LEDs which emit light having at least twomutually different colors.

The printed circuit board 14 may be mounted thereon with a radiofrequency (RF) antenna 14 b, which may recognize an electronic tagincluding a near field communication tag (NFC) or a radio frequencyidentification (RFID) tag, and an infrared detector 14 c which mayrecognize the access of the electronic tag. The RF antenna 14 b and theinfrared detector 14 c may be disposed at positions corresponding to theantenna indicia 27. As described above, when the access of theelectronic tag is recognized by the infrared detector 14 c, since the RFantenna 14 b is activated, the consumption of a standby current may beminimized.

According to various exemplary embodiments, a diffusion sheet 18 may beprovided on the back surfaces of the input elements 21 or the backsurface of the film 20 to diffuse light of the light emitting device 15.According to another exemplary embodiment, the diffusion sheet 18 may besubstituted with a lens.

A support member 16 may be interposed between the touch detector 13 andthe printed circuit board 14. The support member 16 may be provided onan edge portion thereof with a snap protrusion and the like to besnap-coupled to an edge portion of the protector 19.

The support member 16 may have a plurality of receiving apertures 17 inwhich the light emitting devices 15 are individually received. Thereceiving apertures 17 may be isolated from each other by a sealing wall17 a. The receiving apertures 17 may be individually sealed by relevantsealing walls 17 a. As described above, as the light emitting devices 15may be individually received in the relevant receiving apertures 17, thelight emitting devices 15 may be isolated from each other, and lightfrom the light emitting device 15 may be prevented from interfering withlight from an adjacent light emitting device 15. Accordingly, the lightfrom each light emitting device 15 may be individually transmitted tothe relevant input element 21 of the touch pad 12.

The support member 16 and the printed circuit board 14 may be formedtherein with groove parts 16 a and 14 a, respectively, through which theconnector 13 a of the touch detector 13 passes. Accordingly, theconnector 13 a of the touch detector 13 may be connected to a connectorof the printed circuit board 14 after the connector 13 a passes throughthe groove parts 16 a and 14 b of the support member 16 and the printedcircuit board 14. Thus, a signal of the touch detector 13 may betransmitted to the printed circuit board 14.

according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, asillustrated in FIG. 6, each input element 21 may have at least twosymbols 23 and 24 which are formed in overlap with each other and inmutually different colors.

FIG. 6 illustrates the input element 21 in which the symbol 23 havingthe shape of “8” and the symbol 24 having the shape of “1” are formed inoverlap with each other.

A plurality of regions 31, 32, 33, and 34 of each input element 21 maybe displayed in mutually different colors such that the regions 31, 32,33, and 34 are distinguished from one another. As illustrated in FIG. 6,the regions 31, 32, 33, and 34 may include a first color region 31,which transmits light having a first color, a second color region 32,which transmits light having a second color, a third color region 33having a white color, which transmits all wavelengths of light, and afourth color region 34 having a black color which absorbs allwavelengths of light.

The first color region 31 is formed at a portion of the symbol 23 havingthe shape of “8”, and the second color region 32 is formed at a portionof the symbol 24 having the shape of “1”. The third color region 33 isformed at an overlap portion between the symbol 23 having the shape of“8” and the symbol 24 having the shape of “1”. The fourth region 34 maybe formed at a remaining portion of the input element 21 other than thesymbol 23 having the shape of “8” and the symbol 24 having the shape of“1”.

For example, on the assumption that the first color is a red color, andthe second color is a blue color, when the input element 21 is emittedwith light having the red color from the light emitting device 15, thelight having the red color may be transmitted to the first color region31 and the third color region 33. Thus, only the symbol 23 having theshape of “8” may be displayed. In addition, when the input element 21 isemitted with light having the blue color from the light emitting device15, the light having the blue color may be transmitted to the secondcolor region 32 and the third color region 33. Thus, only the symbol 24having the shape of “1” may be displayed.

As described above, each input element 21 may have at least two mutuallydifferent symbols 23 and 24 which are formed in overlap with each otherand in mutually different colors. Each light emitting device 15individually emits lights having mutually different colors whichcorrespond to the colors of the symbols 23 and 24, respectively, toselectively display any one of the symbols 23 and 24. Accordingly,mutually different symbols may be displayed on each input element 21.Therefore, positions of symbols are variably displayed on the touch pad20, enhancing security and privacy of the touch input.

Hereinafter, the operation of the input device 10 configured accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be describedwith reference to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8.

Since the light emitting devices 15 are turned off in a sleep mode inwhich there is neither user touch nor access of the electronic tag, thesymbols of each input element 21 are not displayed on the touch pad 12.

In addition, when a user touches the touch pad 12, the light emittingdevices 15 are turned on. When the light emitting devices 15 are turnedon, a plurality of symbols may be displayed on the touch pad 12 throughthe input elements 21 as illustrated in FIG. 7. In FIG. 7, a pluralityof numbers is sequentially displayed like the array of “1, 2, 3, 4, 5,6, 7, 8, 9, and 0”. The user inputs a password which is previouslyregistered.

When a user causes an input error while inputting the password or whenthe user reenters the password, a control device 41 (see FIG. 9) detectsthe input error or the re-input of the password and controls the lightemitting devices 15. Accordingly, different symbols may be displayed onthe input elements 21, and thus a plurality of numbers may be randomlydisplayed like the array of “8, 6, 7, 0, 2, 9, 3, 1, 5, and 4”.

A registration button 28 may be provided in the protector 19 to registerthe password or identification information (e.g., a registration numberof a card) of the electronic tag. The registration button 28 may beprovided at a position corresponding to a verification element 22. Theregistration button 28 may be configured to turn on or off a contact ofa tact switch provided in the printed circuit board 14.

Since the registration button 28 is positioned on the back surface ofthe input device 10, the registration button 28 may be manipulated onlyin the state where the door 2 of the receiving box 1 is opened,preventing the access of a person other than the user.

FIG. 9 is view illustrating a control block of the electronic lock 100,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, the electronic lock 100 further includes thecontrol device 41 which is configured to control the locking mechanism50.

The control device 41 is connected to a touch authentication module 42which is connected to the touch detector 13, a wireless authenticationmodule 43 which is connected to the RF antenna 14 b, the light emittingdevices 15, and the infrared detector 14 c.

The control device 41 may control the unlocking operation of the lockingmechanism 50 based on an authentication result of the touchauthentication module 42 or the wireless authentication module 43.

In addition, the control device 41 controls the light emitting devices15 depending on whether there is a touch to the touch detector 13 or theaccess of a user. Accordingly, one of the symbols 23 and 24 isselectively displayed on each input element 21. Therefore, positions ofsymbols are varied and displayed on the touch pad 20.

When a password or a fingerprint is input through a selective touch tothe input elements 21 and the verification element 22, the touchauthentication module 42 may perform a comparison operation based on apassword combination or fingerprint information registered in a memoryof the control device 41, and may determine whether to authenticate theinput password or the input fingerprint. In other words, the touchauthentication module 42 may perform a mode of authenticating thepassword or the fingerprint.

The wireless authentication module 43 may perform a wirelessauthentication mode, the wireless authentication mode may be a mode inwhich the identification information (e.g., the registration number ofthe card) of the electronic tag, which is received by the RF antenna 14b, is compared with the identification information registered in thememory of the control device 41 or the wireless authentication module43, and the identification information of the electronic tag isauthenticated or unauthenticated.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling theelectronic lock 100, according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

The control device 41 determines whether a present state is a standbystate in which a touch to the touch pad 12 is not input even though apredetermined standby time (e.g., five seconds) or more elapses (S1).The control device 41 proceeds to a sleep mode, in which the lightemitting devices 15 are turned off, when the present state is thestandby state (S2).

After the sleep mode (S2), the control device 41 determines whether atleast a portion of the touch pad 12 is touched by a user (S10). When atleast a portion of the touch pad 12 is determined to be touched by theuser, the control device 41 determines whether at least any one of theinput elements 21 is touched (S3).

When the touch pad 12 is touched within a predetermined standby time inoperation S1, the control device 41 determines whether at least any oneof the input elements 21 is touched (S3).

When at least any one of the input elements 21 is determined to betouched in operation S3, the control device 41 determines whether apresent mode is a password authentication mode (S4).

When the present mode is determined to be the password authenticationmode in operation S4, the control device 41 turns on the light emittingdevices 15 and displays all symbols of the input elements 21 and theverification element 22. Accordingly, the user selectively touches theinput elements 21 and inputs a password (S5).

When the present mode is determined to not be the passwordauthentication mode in the operation S4, the control device 41 turns ononly the light emitting device 15 corresponding to the symbol of theverification element 22 to display only the symbol of the verificationelement 22 (S11). Thereafter, the control device 41 determines whetherthe verification element 22 is touched (S12).

When the verification element 22 is determined to be touched inoperation S12, the control device 41 generates an authenticationnotification signal (e.g., three beep sounds) (S8), and performs theunlocking operation of the locking mechanism 50 for 0.5 seconds after 1second elapses (S9).

In addition, when the verification element 22 is not determined to betouched in the operation S12, the control device 41 returns to thestandby state (returns to the operation S1).

The control device 41 determines whether the verification element 22 istouched (S6) after the password is completely input through theselective touches to the input elements 21 in operation S5. When theverification element 22 is determined to be touched in operation S6, thetouch authentication module 42 determines whether the input password ismatched with the registered password (S7).

When the touch authentication module 42 determines that the inputpassword is matched with the registered password in operation S7, thecontrol device 41 generates the authentication notification signal(e.g., three beep sounds) (S8) and performs the unlocking operation ofthe locking mechanism 50 for 0.5 seconds after 1 second elapses (S9).

When the verification element 22 is determined to be touched in theoperation S6 or when the touch authentication module 42 determines thatthe input password is not matched with the registered password in theoperation S7, the control device 41 generates a non-authenticationnotification signal (e.g., two beep sounds) (S13) and returns to thestandby state (returns to the operation S1).

Meanwhile, when the touch to the symbol of the input element 21 is notdetermined to be input in the operation S3, wireless authentication modemay be performed.

In detail, when the touch to the symbol of the input element 21 is notdetermined to be input in the operation S3, the control device 41determines, using the infrared detector 14 c, whether the electronic tagincluding an NFC tag or an RFID tag, accesses the RF antenna 14 b (S14).

When the electronic tag is determined as accessing the RF antenna 14 bin operation S14, the wireless authentication module 43 compares theidentification information (e.g., a registration number) of theelectronic tag with the registered identification information anddetermines whether the identification information of the electronic tagis matched with the registered identification information (S15).

When the wireless authentication module 43 determines that theidentification information of the electronic tag is matched with theregistered identification information in operation S15, the controldevice 41 generates the authentication notification signal (e.g., threebeep sounds) (S8) and performs the unlocking operation of the lockingmechanism 50 for 0.5 seconds after 1 second elapses (S9).

When the wireless authentication module 43 determines that theidentification information of the electronic tag is not matched with theregistration identification information in the operation S15, thecontrol device 41 generates the non-authentication notification signal(e.g., two beep sounds) (S16) and returns to the standby state (returnsto the operation S1).

When the electronic tag including the NFC tag or the RFID tag, is notdetermined as accessing the RF antenna 14 b in operation S14, thecontrol device 41 determines whether a user registration mode isperformed (the user registration mode is to register the password or theidentification information (e.g., the registration number of the card)in the memory of the control device 41 by a user) (S17).

In detail, when the electronic tag is not determined as accessing the RFantenna 14 b, the control device 41 determines whether the registrationbutton 28 of the input device 10 is pressed for a predetermined time(approximately 2 seconds) in the state that the door 2 of the receivingbox 1 is opened, determining whether the user registration mode isperformed.

When the control device 41 determines that the registration button 28 ispressed for the predetermined time by the user in operation S17, thecontrol device 41 may perform the user registration mode, and thus theuser may input the identification information of the electronic tag orthe password (S18).

After the password or the identification information of the electronictag is input by the user, the control device 41 determines whether theverification element 22 is touched (S19).

When the verification element 22 is determined to be touched inoperation S19, the control device 41 performs a registration process inwhich the password or the identification information of the electronictag is registered in the memory of the control device 41 (S20). Inaddition, after the control device 41 generates a registrationnotification signal (e.g., three beep sounds) (S21), the control device41 sequentially displays the password or the identification informationof the electronic tag at a predetermined time interval (e.g., onesecond) (S22), and then returns to the standby state (S1).

When the verification element 22 is not determined to be touched in theoperation S19, the control device 41 performs an unlocking mode forunlocking the locking mechanism 50 (S23). After the unlocking mode isperformed, the control device 41 generates an unlocking notificationsignal (e.g., two beep sounds) (S16) and returns to the standby state(S1).

Meanwhile, when the user registration mode is not determined to beperformed in the operation S17, the control device 41 may determinewhether to perform a supervisor registration mode for registering thepassword in the memory of the control device 41 by a supervisor (stepS24).

In detail, when it is determined that the registration button 28 is notpressed for a predetermined time by a user in the operation S17, thecontrol device 41 determines whether the verification element 22 ispressed by the supervisor for a predetermined time (e.g., third seconds)(S24).

When the supervisor is determined as pressing the verification element22 for a predetermined time in operation S24, the control device 41turns on all light emitting devices 15 and allows the supervisor toinput the password (S25).

Thereafter, the control device 41 determines whether the verificationelement 22 is touched (S26). When the verification element 22 istouched, the control device 41 generates the registration notificationsignal (e.g., three beep sounds) (S21) and then sequentially displaysthe password or the identification information of the electronic tag(S22). Thereafter, the control device 41 returns to the standby state(returns operation S1). In addition, when the verification element 22 isnot touched, the control device 41 generates a non-registrationnotification signal (e.g., two beep sounds) (S27) and returns thestandby state (returns to the operation S1).

When the control device 41 determines that the verification element 22is not pressed for the predetermined time in the operation S24, thecontrol device 41 returns to the standby state (returns to the operationS1).

As described above, according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, the positions of the symbols of the input elements arevaried, enhancing security and privacy.

For convenience in explanation and accurate definition in the appendedclaims, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “internal”, “outer”, “up”, “down”,“upper”, “lower”, “upwards”, “downwards”, “front”, “rear”, “back”,“inside”, “outside”, “inwardly”, “outwardly”, “internal”, “external”,“internal”, “outer”, “forwards”, and “backwards” are used to describefeatures of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions ofsuch features as displayed in the figures.

The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention have been presented for purposes of illustration anddescription. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously manymodifications and variations are possible in light of the aboveteachings. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described toexplain certain principles of the invention and their practicalapplication, to enable others skilled in the art to make and utilizevarious exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as well asvarious alternatives and modifications thereof. It is intended that thescope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto andtheir equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An input apparatus comprising: a touch padincluding a transmissive material; a touch detector disposed at a rearportion of the touch pad; a printed circuit board connected to the touchdetector; a plurality of input elements disposed on a back surface ofthe touch detector, each input element having at least two symbols thatare formed in overlap with each other and in mutually different colors;and a plurality of light emitting devices respectively emitting light tothe input elements.
 2. The input apparatus of claim 1, wherein eachlight emitting device emits lights having at least two different colorscorresponding to the mutually different colors of the symbols of eachinput element.
 3. The input apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inputelements are formed on a film, and wherein the film is attached to aback surface of the touch pad.
 4. The input apparatus of claim 1,wherein the input elements are printed on a back surface of the touchpad.
 5. The input apparatus of claim 1, wherein the touch detectorincludes: a capacitive detector having a plurality of electrodes.
 6. Theinput apparatus of claim 5, wherein the electrodes include transparentmaterials.
 7. The input apparatus of claim 1, wherein the touch detectoris printed integrally with the input elements on a back surface of thetouch pad.
 8. The input apparatus of claim 1, wherein a support memberis interposed between the touch detector and the printed circuit board,and wherein the support member has a plurality of receiving openings inwhich the light emitting devices are received.
 9. The input apparatus ofclaim 8, wherein the receiving openings are isolated from each other bya sealing wall.